Any candle that is poured
into a container of any type, such as jars, glasses, tins, etc. Container
candles create a large pool of molten wax. Because they "contain" the wax,
they are non-messy and very popular. They are also known for giving
off a strong scent, which is due to their melt pools.

Floater

A small candle shaped with a rounded or
tapered bottom so it floats in water. Floaters must be designed to core
burn so that the wax stays contained and doesn't run into the water.

Gel Candle

Clear or translucent candles made of
candle gel. Candle gel is a patented material comprised of mineral oil and
a polymer resin.

Hurricane

Candle shell mold used for
dried flowers & other decorations. Leaves the center of the mold
hollow, to be filled with wax not containing the flowers. The outside
shell doesn't burn so the flowers don't float into the flame. These
can be refilled over and over. Or you can insert a votive or tea
light candle in the shell.

Layered Candles

Pillars or containers that are layered
in 2 or more different colors.

Luminaries

Candle lanterns usually made with a
votive cup set inside a paper bag full of sand, and used to line a driveway or
sidewalk.

Molded / Novelty(Freestanding)

These are irregularly-shaped,
free standing candles made by molding, sculpting and/or pouring into a
shaped mold. Many are made to be burned, and many are used more for decoration
and are not meant to be burnt.

A free standing candle usually
round and tall like a cylinder, but can be made in other shapes such as
square, hexagon, triangle, star, heart, etc. These are made in metal,
acrylic or latex molds and are meant to be burned on a flat holder.

Sand Candle

Free standing candle with an outer shell
made of sand & wax. Damp sand forms the mold in which hot wax is poured to
make this type of candle.

Sculpted Candle

Made from a pliable wax and hand formed
to resemble an object or character.

Taper

Taper candles are tall, skinny
candles that require a special fitting taper candle holder. They
are either made in a mold, or they can be made by the traditional method
of dipping a length of wick into hot molten wax. Another method is to roll
a sheet of beeswax around a wick, forming a taper. The most common size
is 1/2 or 7/8 inch in diameter and either 9 or 12 inches tall.

Tea light

Tea lights are like small
votives used to warm pots of potpourri and to heat foods. They fit are
poured in small metal or plastic tea light cups and are usually sold in
packages of 10 or 12.

Votive

These are small pillar shaped
candles that are usually about 1½ inch in diameter and 2-3 inches
high. They are designed to be burned in a glass votive cup because they
are made to completely liquefy when burning, essentially becoming a small
container candle. A candle flame must have a pool of fuel (molten
wax) to draw from, so if you burn a votive on a flat holder or a plate,
the burning time will be shorter because the candle will loose it's shape
and basically become a puddle, drowning out the wick. The tighter
fitting glass cups work best.

Tart / Melt

Small disc of scented wax
used to melt in a potpourri or tart burner or melter. These are usually
round 2.5" scalloped and fluted, but can also come in other shapes such
as hearts, leaves, stars, etc.

A powdery substance that appears on
beeswax candles. Bloom is the result of the oils migrate to the surface of
the wax over time. It can be removed by rubbing with a soft cloth.

Burn Rate

The burn rate is the amount
of wax consumed per hour (in grams). Burn rates are based on testing
performed with straight paraffin wax with no other additives.

Chunk

Cubes or random pieces of wax used in
containers or molds, and then over poured to make chunk candles.

Cold Pour

This is a technique in which you pour
the wax at a cooler temp, and sometimes into a chilled metal mold to give it a
rustic look as opposed to a smooth finish.

Core Burning

When the melt pool does not reach the
edges of the candle and it burns a hole down the center, but leaves a wall of
wax around the edges. This can happen in both container candles and
pillars, and is due to improper wicking.

Core Candle

Core means "middle". Core candle
many times refers to plain unscented & uncolored pillar candles used for
over-dipping and cut & curl candle making. A core pillar can also be used
when putting embedded objects such as potpourri or sea shells around the outside
of a pillar.

Coreless

Usually refers to cotton wicks with no
core material (such as zinc, paper, etc).

Cure or Curing

Curing means to age the product (candle
or soap). Once a candle is hardened it looks finished, but there are still
changes happening with the molecular structure that the eye cannot see.
The wax and fragrance needs time to bond and fully transform. Just like
wine gets better with age, candles will get stronger with age. This is
true with all types of wax. Soy wax seems to need the longest curing time,
usually 2 weeks is best.

Double Boiler

Pan or other metal container
placed inside a pot of water.

Essential Oil (aka EO)

Volatile aroma compounds from plants, or
plant essence oils.

Flash Point

The lowest temperature at
which the vapor of a combustible liquid can be made to ignite momentarily
in air. This relates to both wax and fragrance oils. For wax
it is the temperature that wax would have to reach before it combusts and
catches fire. For fragrance oil it is the temperature the oil would
have to be in order to catch fire when coming into contact with a spark
or an open flame.

Fragrance Oil (aka FO)

Combinations of synthetic and natural
aroma chemicals blended to create scented oil for use in candles, bath products
and other aroma products.

Frosting

White, chalky marks that appear often on
soy candles. Similar to bloom on beeswax candles. Frosting is also
sometimes used to describe whipped wax on cake candles.

Grubby

A popular style of primitive candle.
This involves dipping the candles in wax that has been cooled to a lumpy texture
and often rolling in spices, coffee grounds and crushed herbs for a "grubby"
look.

Jump Lines

These are small horizontal
lines that form in the wax as it's being poured into a cold jar or mold.
This can be a result of the wax itself being poured at a cooler temp also. Some people refer to them as skip lines
or chatter marks or stutter marks.

Melt Pool

Refers to the size of the
pool of melted wax that forms around the wick of a burning candle.

Melting Point

Refers to the temperature
a particular wax reaches when it melts. Wax comes in several different
melting points.

Mold Release

Used to help candles come
out of the mold easier. Comes in a powdered wax additive form or a liquid spray
to pre-coat inside of mold.

Mold Sealer

Usually a grey or white putty type
material used to spread around the wick on the outside of a pillar mold.
This seals the wick hole so it doesn't leak wax, and keeps water from seeping in
if a water bath is used.

Molten Wax

Hot melted liquid wax.

Mottling

Snowflake type splotches and
spots of white or sometimes differing color shades. Usually caused
by high oil content.

Mushrooming

Carbon mushrooms form at the
top of a candle's wick, caused by incomplete combustion. This can
be caused by the type of wick, and cooler burning additives like petro,
crisco & some scented oils.

Over Dip

The process of dipping a finished
candle in wax formulated to make the candle have a glossy, shiny finish.

Pouring Temp

This is the temperature at which you
pour your wax into your mold or containers. Pour temp will depend on the
type of wax used and the desired effect.

Re-pour

Filling in the cavity where the wax has
shrunk to make it level.

Relief Holes

Relief holes are poked in paraffin wax
after the first pour. This releases air bubbles before the 2nd pour or
"re-pour" is done.

Rustic

Usually refers to pillar candles that
have a frosty or chalky cold-poured appearance.

Shrinkage

Most paraffin waxes will contract once
poured and hardened, and shrink away from the sides of the mold or container, as
well as shrinking down and leaving a dip in the middle (also referred to as a
sink hole or cavity).

Water Bath

Container of cool water to
place your hot mold in to help the candle cool and harden.

Wet Spots

Also known as Delamination.
Sections of a glass container candle where the wax pulled away from the
glass, making what looks like "wet" spots. A very common problem
with container candles.

Whipped Wax

Regular melted wax, whipped
with a fork or beater until frothy or foamy and thick.

Wick Tabs

Small, flat metal discs with
hole in the middle for wick. Used to hold the wick at the bottom
of candle. They are usually round and come in a 15mm and a 20mm size,
or some come in a square shape.

Wicking Needle

Long, thin metal poker used
to make wick holes in candles.

ADDITIVES

Clear Crystals

Raises melting point, prolongs
burning time and brightens colors.

Color Stabilizer

Inhibits fading from light, and also
helps improve the stability of the candle's color and protect it from the
effects of heat and fragrance solvents.

Glaze

Clear viscous liquid used to coat free
standing decorative candles to give them a shiny finish.

Gloss Poly C15

Clear crystals that harden
wax & add gloss. Commonly used in pillar/molded candles.
Average use 1-2% or 1/2 to 1 tsp. per lb. of paraffin wax. *Note: Must melt separately
from wax on direct heat, then stir into melted wax.

Additive used in container
candles to soften wax, lower the melt point and cause a larger melt pool.
Also commonly known as petroleum jelly (Vaseline).Petrolatum
is the wax byproduct of the heaviest lube oil, bright stock. Petrolatum
wax consists of a natural mixture of microcrystalline wax and oil. It has
good oil-holding capacity that when filtered and blended it becomes mineral
jelly. When fully refined it becomes microcrystalline wax.

Micro Wax

Slab form wax with a tacky consistency.
Aids in fragrance retention and adhesion to glass. Recommended use approx. 1 oz.
per pound of paraffin in containers.

Mineral Oil (White
Oils)

White
oils are colorless, odorless, tasteless mixtures of saturated paraffinic
and naphthenic hydrocarbons that span a viscosity range of 50-370 SUS at
100F. These nearly chemically inert oils are virtually free of nitrogen,
sulfur, oxygen and aromatic hydrocarbons. They are common ingredients in
pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, plastics, textiles and foods.

Stearic Acid (sterine)

Used in paraffin and vegetable
wax candles for hardness, slower burn and opacity. Commonly used
in pillar/molded candles at approx. 3 tbs per pound. Also used in
soaps for hardness, and in lotions as an emollient and thickener.
Typical usage rates are around 1-3%.

Vybar 103

For melt points over 130,
pillars & votives. Reduces air bubbles & mottling, acts as
an oil binding agent & makes wax opaque. Average use is between
1/4 tsp to 1 tsp per pound. Can cause increased shrinkage and rippling.

Vybar 260

For melt points under 130,
containers. Reduces air bubbles & mottling, acts as an oil binding
agent & makes wax opaque. Average use is between 1/4 tsp to 1
tsp per pound. Can cause increased shrinkage and rippling.

Universal Additive

187 melt point pellets.
Aids in mold release, hardens wax, binds oil to wax, increases opacity
and lengthens burn time. Can be used in all types of candles.
Suggested use is from 1/2 to 1 tsp per pound of wax.